GEOGRAPHIC PROXIMITY AND THE ‘OTHERING’ DISCOURSE: MEDIA NARRATIVES ON ISLAM AND MUSLIMS

Abstract

This study examines the discourse of “othering” based on geographic proximity in two prominent Western print media outlets: The Wall Street Journal (United States) and The Daily Telegraph (United Kingdom). Focusing on the coverage of the Escondido Mosque fire incident in the US and the mosque attacks in Birmingham, UK, the research evaluates how geographic location shapes the portrayal of Muslim communities. Adopting a qualitative approach, the study employs Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) to analyze news content published within one month of each incident—March 24 to April 24, 2019, for The Wall Street Journal, and March 21 to April 21, 2019, for The Daily Telegraph. Findings reveal that The Wall Street Journal presents Islam in a more severe and prejudiced manner, often downplaying anti-Muslim actions and using less critical language toward perpetrators compared to The Daily Telegraph. Moreover, The Wall Street Journal maintains a consistent framing of incidents regardless of their geographic proximity. In contrast, The Daily Telegraph demonstrates a discernible pattern of differentiating among various groups within the broader Muslim identity, with coverage influenced by geographical closeness and spatial positioning relative to the newspaper’s operational base.